Secular Winter Theme
Wedding Ceremony

This is our Pre-Written Secular Winter Wedding Ceremony. Text in italics are words spoken by the Bride & Groom or Ceremony participants other than the Celebrant. Text in { } are words spoken by the Celebrant to the guests, and generally explain what is happening or about to happen in the Ceremony. Text in [ ] are actions by the Bride & Groom, Celebrant, or other Ceremony participants. All other text are words spoken by the Celebrant directly addressing the Bride & Groom, and/or the guests.


Processional

Opening Words
Welcome! We are gathered here on this wonderful winter day to join in marriage Bride's Full Name and Groom's Full Name. Some words associated with winter are 'dreary', 'cold', 'bleak'. And, although winter may be overhead, Bride and Groom's love brings spring to the heart! It is said that one love can warm three winter months. But today, Groom and Bride engage in a marriage that will bring a warmth to the rest of their lives. Groom & Bride have brought life to this season with their wedding! And we who are here today, appreciate the chance to celebrate with them!

Expression of Intent
{Now, Groom & Bride will make public their intention to marry.}
Groom, do you here in the presence of these witnesses declare your commitment to Bride and choose her as the one with whom you wish to spend your life? Do you give yourself to her and accept the gift of self which she gives to you? Do you pledge to endure all of the difficulties which life may offer, even as you look forward to sharing the joys to be experienced together?
Groom: I do!

Bride, do you here in the presence of these witnesses declare your commitment to Groom and choose him as the one with whom you wish to spend your life? Do you give yourself to him and accept the gift of self which he gives to you? Do you pledge to endure all of the difficulties which life may offer, even as you look forward to sharing the joys to be experienced together?
Bride: I do!

Vows
{And now Groom and Bride will recite their wedding vows}
Groom, please repeat after me...
Bride, I promise before family and friends to be your husband from this day forward. Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; where my life was dark, you have brought light. Let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always love and respect each other.

Bride, please repeat after me...
Groom, I promise before family and friends to be your wife from this day forward. Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; where my life was dark, you have brought light. Let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always love and respect each other.

Blessing of the Rings
These rings are made of precious metals, a symbol of the riches that reside in each of you. As any metal is purified by the heat of testing, so will your love be purified by the tests given to you through the many seasons of your love. May these rings always reflect the light of your love throughout your life together. Wear them as the sign of the love that exists between you, the love which now your hearts enfold and your words express.

Exchange Of The Rings
{And now, Groom & Bride will exchange their wedding rings}
Groom, please repeat after me...
With this ring, I pledge myself to you, to our marriage, and to our everlasting love.

Bride, please repeat after me...
With this ring, I pledge myself to you, to our marriage, and to our everlasting love.

Unity Candle Ritual
{And now, Groom and Bride will light a Unity Candle as a symbol of their love.}
Bride and Groom, your relationship was just sealed by the giving and receiving of rings. This beautiful union is symbolized through the lighting of the Unity Candle. The two distinct flames represent your lives to this moment; individual and unique. The center candle you are about to light is a candle of Marriage. Its fire is magical because it represents the light of two people in love. It is a candle of unity because both must come together, giving a spark of themselves, to create the new light. This candle is also a candle of commitment because it takes two people working together to keep it aflame. Groom and Bride, please light the center candle to symbolize the union of your lives.

[Bride and Groom light Unity Candle]

As you have lit this candle today, may the brightness of the flame shine throughout your lives. May the radiance of this one light be a testimony of your unity. May this candle burn brightly as a symbol of your commitment to each other. May it give you courage and reassurance in darkness. Warmth and safety in the cold.

Reading
This reading comes from the words of an Eskimo love song.
You are my spouse.
My feet shall run because of you.
My feet dance because of you.
My heart shall beat because of you.
My eyes see because of you.
My mind thinks because of you.
And I shall love because of you.

Pronouncement of Marriage
{At this time we come to the Pronouncement of Marriage. The Pronouncement is my public, and legal, proclamation that Bride and Groom are married. It is the exact moment of Marriage...}
Groom and Bride, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by your vows, the giving of your rings, and the lighting of your Unity Candle, I now declare you to be husband and wife and offer you the Benediction of the Apaches...
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there is no more loneliness. You are two bodies, but there is one life before you, and one home. You will take each others hand and you'll turn together to look at the road you traveled to reach this---the hour of your happiness. It stretches behind you and the future lies ahead. A long and winding road, whose every turn means discovery, old hopes, new laughter, and shared tears. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years. May happiness be your companion and may your days together be good and long upon the earth. The adventure has just begun!

Permission to Kiss
Congratulations, you may kiss!

Good Wishes
Bride & Groom, may you always see and encourage the best in each other. May the challenges life brings you make your marriage grow stronger. May your love be as beautiful on each day you share as it is on this beautiful winter day of celebration. And may you always be each other's best friend and greatest love.

Presentation of the New Couple
Ladies and gentlemen, It is my pleasure to present to you...
Mr. & Mrs. _________________________

Recessional